Accident Overview
On 6 July 2021, a Robinson R44 helicopter (registration SP-CCC) operated by a private user was involved in an accident near Mikołajki, Poland. The helicopter came to rest in Tałty Lake after a hard ditching. The pilot and both passengers suffered serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed.
Flight History
Around 09:30 hrs LMT, the pilot, a 53-year-old male holder of a Private Pilot Licence (Helicopter), departed from a private property in Mikołajki for a recreational flight to EPUL airfield in Ułęż. Two passengers were on board. The cabin temperature was very high. After takeoff, while accelerating and gaining altitude, the pilot intended to pull the cabin air knob but inadvertently pulled the mixture control knob. This action leaned the mixture, resulting in engine shutdown. The pilot immediately realized the mistake and pushed the knob back, but the engine had already stopped.
Engine Failure Sequence
Following the engine shutdown, main rotor RPM decreased rapidly, triggering light and sound warnings. The pilot lowered the collective to enter autorotation. During the descent, the helicopter remained controllable; however, due to low speed and altitude (approximately 40 m AGL), it was not possible to restore operational main rotor RPM.
Ditching and Rescue
Just above the water surface, the pilot raised the collective to increase the main rotor blade angle of attack. Because of the low main rotor RPM, the descent could not be fully arrested, and the helicopter struck the water hard. The pilot lost consciousness momentarily and regained it after choking on water, then surfaced instinctively. One passenger was already on the surface, and the other joined shortly after. A private motorboat approached and took all three aboard. Fire service and police boats arrived minutes later, and first aid was administered. The survivors were transported to hospitals.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and two passengers sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was destroyed; its wreckage came to rest at a depth of over a dozen meters. It was recovered later that afternoon.
Investigation Findings
The Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL) determined the cause of the accident was pilot error leading to engine shutdown after takeoff. Contributing factors included high ambient and cabin temperature, the pilot's habits from a different helicopter model, time pressure due to limited airspace availability, and insufficient altitude and speed to perform a full autorotation. No safety recommendations were issued.